Selection display apparatus for coin-operated vending machine

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a selection display for coin-operated vending machine, mounted on a support positioned at the front of the vending machine are vertically disposed rows of prism display elements extending outwardly toward the front of the vending machine in essentially a horizontal orientation. Printed selection display strips are held flat against the lower surface of the prism display elements by retaining flanges which are adapted to permit the selection display strips to be easily removed and replaced. The selection display strips are not viewable when a viewer stands more than a few feet from the vending machine because of the angular orientation and optical properties of the prism display elements. However, as the viewer approaches the immediate proximity of the vending machine, the display strips suddenly become viewable substantially simultaneously.

United States Patent Merrigan Sept. 9, 1975 SELECTION DISPLAY APPARATUSFOR Primary Examiner-John K. Corbin COIN-OPERATED VENDING MACHINEAttorney, Agent, or FirmKirkland & Ellis [75] Inventor: Herman J.Merrigan, Chicago, Ill. AB STR A CT [73] AsS'gnee: The SeeburgCorporauon Chlcago Disclosed is a selection display for coin-operatedvending machine, mounted on a support positioned at [22] Filed: June 3,1974 the front of the vending machine are vertically dis- Appl. No.:475,567

Field of Search 350/1 IO. H2, 287, 286; 221/2, 4, 5

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/l968 Tate, Jr 350/287 UX 7/l97lRuppert 350/112 X 'I/IIIIIIIIIIIII/l posed rows of pn'sm displayelements extending outwardly toward the front of the vending machine inessentially a horizontal orientation. Printed selection dis play stripsare held flat against the lower surface of the prism display elements byretaining flanges which are adapted to permit the selection displaystrips to be easily removed and replaced. The selection display stripsare not viewable when a viewer stands more than a few feet from thevending machine because of the angular orientation and opticalproperties of the prism display elements. However, as the viewerapproaches the immediate proximity of the vending machine, the displaystrips suddenly become viewable substantially simultaneously.

16 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures SELECTION DISPLAY APPARATUS FORCOIN-OPERATED VENDING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention The present invention relates to informational displaysand, more particularly to a selection display arrangement forcoin-operated vending machines.

2. Description of the Prior Art Vending machines typically exhibitselection displays, the purpose of which is to inform consumers of theproducts or services ofi'ered and information necessary for theirprocurement. Many types of selection displays have been utilized invending machines.

One common selection display consists of a row or rows of windows behindwhich the item to be selected for vending is physically positioned.Other types of selection displays utilize either a horizontally orvertically disposed panel having printed selection display stripsarranged thereon.

Typically, the selection display strips are adjacent to an associatedselection button or relate sufficent information to allow the consumerto press the appropriate selection button. An example is coin-operatedphonographs wherein each record available for selection is identified ona selection display strip positioned adjacent to the appropriateselector button code. In contrast, coin-operated cigarette vendingmachines often display a replica of the cigarette pack mounted adjacentto the appropriate selector button, such that the purchaser can selectthe desired brand of cigarette and press the proper selector button.

One of the undesirable features of many prior art selection displayarrangements is that the vending machine, with its selection displaystrips viewable at some distance from the vending machine, has asomewhat undesirable appearance. Additionally, the selection display istypically lighted to facilitate reading and selection, rendering thedisplay quite noticeable and sometimes unpleasant in appearance.Consequently, the decorum of an establishment in which such vendingmachines may be placed might be adversely affected, causing the ownersof these establishments reluctant to allow these vending machines to beinstalled.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a selection display arrangementfor coin-operated vending machines that adequately exhibits theselection display strips when a consumer is in close proximity to thevending machine but is not otherwise visible, thus allowing the vendingmachine to present a more pleasing appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A selection display for a coin-operated vendingmachine for displaying selection display strips having a lexical messageprinted thereon in accordance with the present invention comprises amounting means attached to the front of the vending machine. Prism meansare mounted on the mounting means, and retaining means are provided onthe prism means for holding the selection display strips against thelower surface of the prism means.

The mounting means may comprise a panel, on which the prism means aremounted along a back edge so that the prism means extend outwardly in acantilever fashion, or the mounting means may alternatively comprise twoessentially parallel flat rectangular support members, between which theprism means are mounted along at least two opposite edges.

The prism means comprise solid transparent substantially triangularpolyhedrons (although the exact shape of said prism means may be varied)having at least two opposite substantially flat surfaces oriented at anacute angle with respect to each other.

The prism means are angularly positioned so that the display stripsbecome visible substantially simultaneously only as a customerapproaches the immediate proximity of the vending machine and thecustomers angle of viewing increases with respect to the horizontal. Theoptical principal involved is well known in optical physics. The lightreflected through a surface of a prism will be refracted at an angle asthe light passes through the surface. Light striking the surface at acritical angle of the prism is reflected back into the prism rather thanbeing allowed to escape since the refractive angle is equal to orgreater than the angle at which the light strikes the surface of theprism. At angles greater than this critical angle the light reflectingfrom the title display strip passes through the surface of the prism butthe light rays are bent toward the surface of the prism. Consequently,the light rays that pass through the prism can only be observed when theviewers eyes are positioned at a point above the surface of the prismsuch that the light rays do not exceed the critical angle.

In the present invention a plurality of prism means are angularlypositioned so that as a customer approaches the vending machine hisviewing angle increases to a point at which the title strips appear tosimultaneously spring into view in a startling manner.

An esthetically pleasing design may be provided on the rear insidesurface of the vending machine (or on the panel means) so that when thepurchaser is more than a few feet from the vending machine the purchasersees only the design and not the selection display strips.

In addition, a removable transparent cover may be positioned over theselection display so that unauthorized access to the selection displaystrips is prevented. The retaining means are adapted to permit the titledisplay strips to be easily removed and new strips inserted by aServiceman after removing the cover.

Thus, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide aselection display for a coin-operated vending machine in which selectiondisplay strips are not viewable when the viewer is standing more than afew feet from the vending machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a selectiondisplay for a coin-operated vending machine in which selection displaystrips come into view substantially simultaneously as the customerapproaches the proximity of the vending machine.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a selectiondisplay for a coin-operated vending machine which permits easy removaland replacement of the selection display strips from the front of thevending machine.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a selectiondisplay for a coin-operated vending machine having the title displaystrips mounted on angularly oriented prism means mounted on a panelhaving an esthetically pleasing design thereon so that the title displaystrips are not viewable and the esthetically pleasing design is viewablewhen the viewer is standing more than a few feet from the vendingmachine.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the subjectinvention will hereinafter appear, and for the purposes of illustration,but not of limitation, an exemplary embodiment of the present inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of apreferred embodiment of the present invention in a coin-operated vendingmachine. 7

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional partially fragmentary view ofembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an upper right partially fragmentary perspective view of oneprism member of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the prism member illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the prism member illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the prism member takensubstantially along line 66 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the mounting meansof the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a graphical illustration of the optical refraction of lightrays passing through the surface of the prism member of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIG.1, a coin-operated vending machine 10 takes the form of a conventionalcoinoperated phonograph having selection buttons 12, coin slot 14,speaker enclosure 15, and selection display 16. A transparent cover 19is positioned over selection display 16 so that the selection display isviewable through transparent cover 19. Selection display 16 comprisesfive display inserts 18 mounted side by side to the upper front portionof vending machine 10. Each display insert 18 comprises a plurality ofprism display assemblies 20 (see FIG. 3).

With reference to FIG. 2, prism display assemblies 20 are mounted onmounting means 22 which is mounted to vending machine 10 at an angle sothat the top of mounting means 22 is slanted away from the front of thevending machine 10. Transparent cover I9 is pivotably mounted at itsupper edge so that it can be pivoted upwardly as illustrated by thedotted lines to permit access to the selection display 16.

With respect to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, prism display assembly 20comprises solid transparent prism member 24 having opposite essentiallyrectangular smooth faces 25 and 27. Two retaining L shape flanges 26 arepositioned near the outside lower edges of prism member 24. With respectof FIG. 5 retaining flanges 26 mounted on prism member 24 from a groove28 into which selection display strips 30 may be inserted. Groove 28holds two edges of selection display strips 30, and groove 28 is opentoward the front of the prism display assembly 30 so that the selectiondisplay strips 20 may be removed by sliding them from beneath prismmember 24. As can be seen, each prism display assembly 20 holds oneselection display strip. With respect to FIG. 6, prism display assembly20 comprises two essen tially rectangular smooth faces 25 oriented withrespect to each other at an acute angle A."

Mounting means 22 comprises two essentially flat rectangular supportmembers 32 between which is mounted prism display assembly 20.

An alternative embodiment of the mounting means is illustrated in FIG. 7comprising an essentially flat rectangular panel 34 on which is mountedprism display assembly 20 along the rear edge of prism member 24 in acantilever manner.

The purpose of the present invention is to obscure from view theselection display strips when the viewer is standing more than a fewfeet from the vending machine. Since the selection display strips 30 aremounted against the lower surface of prism elements 24 the selectiondisplay strips are visible only through the prism members 24. Withreference to FIG. 8, the optical principal of the present invention isgraphically illustrated. Light rays (graphically shown as dotted lines)reflected from selection display strips 30 are refracted toward surface25 of prism member 24 as they pass through surface 25. For exampleincident light rays passing through surface 25 at angle B are refractedtoward surface 25 at angle B. As the angle of incidence becomes moreacute such as angle C the refractive angle C becomes more acute bendingthe light rays further toward surface 25. At a critical angle ofincidence of the light rays, the refractive angle is great enough thatthe light rays are reflected back into prism member 24. For example, aslight rays approach surface 25 at angle D, the refractive angle D isgreat enought to reflect the light ray back into prism member 24. Thus.by adjusting the angle of surfaces 25 of each prism member 24, the pointat which all light rays approach the critical angle can be made tocoincide so that beyond and below that point, the light rays arereflected back into the prism, and the selection display strips cannotbe seen. This point can be adjusted to be at the average eye elevationof the average person at some selected distance from the vendingmachine.

With reference to FIG. 2, mounting means 22 is mounted to vendingmachine 10 at an angle so that the top of mounting means 22 is slantedaway from the front of the vending machine. Each prism display assembly20 is angularly positioned on mounting means 22 so that the criticalviewing angle at which the selection display strips 30 are visiblethrough prism means 24 converges at some point away from the vending machine l0. For example, the rays 38 in FIG. 2 represent light raysemerging from prism members 24 at the critical angle. These raysconverge at a point represented by eye 40 that is representative of theeye of the viewer. If eye 40 moves either to the left or down as viewedin FIG. 2, the light rays 38 will be above the eye and not viewable. Asthe eye 40 moves to the right as viewed in FIG. 2 the selection displaystrips will remain in view since the light reflected from the titlestrips will not be reflected back into the prism. Only as the viewerapproaches to close proximity of the vending machine will the incidentangle of his line of sight be sufficiently acute with respect to thecritical angle that selection display strips 30 become visible throughprism elements 24. Thus, as the viewer approaches the vending machine,the selection display strips appear to suddenly spring mto view.

An esthetically pleasing design may be placed upon the interior surface40 of the back of vending machine 10. A viewer standing more than a fewfeet away from the vending machine only sees the design, the edges ofprism display elements 20, and the edges of mounting means 22.

Where the alternative mounting means, as depicted in H6. 7, is utilized,an esthetically pleasing design may be placed on the exterior surface 33of panel 34.

Transparent cover 19 is normally positioned over selection display 16 asindicated by the solid lines in FIG. 2. However, when a Servicemanwishes to change the selection display inserts 30 in selection display16, cover 19 may be opened and pivoted as indicated dotted lines in FIG.2 so that access may be had to the selection display strips Theserviceman may then remove the selection display strips by sliding thembeneath prism elements 24 toward the front of the vending machine 10.New selection display strips may be easily inserted in place of theremoved selection display strips by sliding them underneath prismelements 24.

It should be understood that various changes modifi cations andvariations in the structure and function of the present invention may beeffected without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A selection display for a coin-operated vending machine fordisplaying selection display strips having a lexical message printedthereon comprising:

mounting means attached to the vending machine;

a plurality of prism means mounted on said mounting means;

retaining means on said prism means for holding the selection displaystrips against the lower surface of said prism means;

each of said prism means being angularly oriented so that the criticalviewing angle at which said selection display strips are visibleconverges at some point in the immediate proximity of said vendingmachine and said selection display strips become visible substantiallysimultaneously only as a customer approaches the immediate proximity ofthe vending machine.

2. A selection display, as claimed in claim 1, further comprisingtransparent removable cover means for covering said mounting means andsaid prism means.

3. A selection display, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mountingmeans comprises an essentially flat rectangular panel member having anesthetically pleasing design thereon, and said prism means are mountedon said panel in a cantilever fashion.

4. A selection display, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said prism meansare mounted on said mounting means in vertically disposed horizontalrows.

5. A selection display, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mountingmeans comprises at least two essentially parallel flat rectangularmembers, and said prism means are mounted along opposite edges betweensaid flat rectangular members,

6. A selection display, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said prism meansare mounted on said mounting means in vertically disposed horizontalrows.

7. A selection display, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said prism meanscomprise solid transparent elements having at least two oppositesubstantially flat surfaces oriented at an acute angle with respect toeach other.

8. A selection display, as claimed in claim I, wherein said retainingmeans comprise flange means mounted on the lower surface of said prismmeans for holding the edges of the selection display strips so that theselection display strips are retained against the lower surface of saidprism means and so that the selection display strips may be easilyremoved and replaced.

9. A selection display for coinoperated vending ma- 5 chines fordisplaying selection display strips having a lexical message printedthereon comprising:

an essentially flat rectangular panel member mounted at the front of thevending machine;

a plurality of solid transparent prism members having at least twoopposite substantially flat surfaces oriented at an acute angle withrespect to each other, mounted along one edge to said panel membertoward the front of the vending machine;

retaining means mounted on said prism members for retaining theselection display strips against the lower surface of said prismelements;

each of said prism members being angularly oriented so that the criticalviewing angle at which said selection display strips are visibleconverges at some point in the immediate proximity of said vendingmachine and said selection display strips become visible substantiallysimultaneously only as a customer approaches the immediate proximity ofthe vending machine.

10. A selection display, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said prismmembers are arranged in a plurality of vertically disposed horizontalrows.

11. A selection display, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said retainingmeans comprise flange members mounted on the lower surface of said prismmembers, said flange members being positioned on said prism members toretain at least two edges of the selection display strips so that theselection display strips may be removed by sliding the edges of theselection display strips from between said flange members.

12. A selection display, as claimed in claim 9, further comprising aremovable transparent cover member for covering the panel member and theprism members to prevent unauthorized access to the selection displaystrips.

13. A selection display, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said panelmember has an esthetically pleasing design thereon.

14. A selection display for coinoperated vending machines for displayingselection display strips having a lexical message printed thereoncomprising:

at least two essentially parallel flat rectangular support membersmounted at the front of the vending machine;

a plurality of solid transparent prism members having at least twoopposite substantially flat surfaces oriented at an acute angle withrespect to each other, mounted along at least two other opposite edgesbetween said support members;

retaining means mounted on said prism members for retaining theselection display strips against the lower surface of said prismmembers;

each of said prism members being angularly oriented so that the criticalviewing angle at which said selection display strips are visibleconverges at some point in the immediate proximity of said vendingmachine and said selection display strips become visible substantiallysimultaneously only as a customer approaches the immediate proximity ofthe vending machine.

15. A selection display, as claimed in claim 14,

wherein said retaining means comprise flange members 16. A selectiondisplay, as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a removabletransparent cover member for covering the panel member and the prism members to prevent unauthorized access to the selection display strips.

1. A selection display for a coin-operated vending machine fordisplaying selection display strips having a lexical message printedthereon comprising: mounting means attached to the vending machine; apLurality of prism means mounted on said mounting means; retaining meanson said prism means for holding the selection display strips against thelower surface of said prism means; each of said prism means beingangularly oriented so that the critical viewing angle at which saidselection display strips are visible converges at some point in theimmediate proximity of said vending machine and said selection displaystrips become visible substantially simultaneously only as a customerapproaches the immediate proximity of the vending machine.
 2. Aselection display, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising transparentremovable cover means for covering said mounting means and said prismmeans.
 3. A selection display, as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidmounting means comprises an essentially flat rectangular panel memberhaving an esthetically pleasing design thereon, and said prism means aremounted on said panel in a cantilever fashion.
 4. A selection display,as claimed in claim 3, wherein said prism means are mounted on saidmounting means in vertically disposed horizontal rows.
 5. A selectiondisplay, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises atleast two essentially parallel flat rectangular members, and said prismmeans are mounted along opposite edges between said flat rectangularmembers.
 6. A selection display, as claimed in claim 5, wherein saidprism means are mounted on said mounting means in vertically disposedhorizontal rows.
 7. A selection display, as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid prism means comprise solid transparent elements having at least twoopposite substantially flat surfaces oriented at an acute angle withrespect to each other.
 8. A selection display, as claimed in claim 1,wherein said retaining means comprise flange means mounted on the lowersurface of said prism means for holding the edges of the selectiondisplay strips so that the selection display strips are retained againstthe lower surface of said prism means and so that the selection displaystrips may be easily removed and replaced.
 9. A selection display forcoinoperated vending machines for displaying selection display stripshaving a lexical message printed thereon comprising: an essentially flatrectangular panel member mounted at the front of the vending machine; aplurality of solid transparent prism members having at least twoopposite substantially flat surfaces oriented at an acute angle withrespect to each other, mounted along one edge to said panel membertoward the front of the vending machine; retaining means mounted on saidprism members for retaining the selection display strips against thelower surface of said prism elements; each of said prism members beingangularly oriented so that the critical viewing angle at which saidselection display strips are visible converges at some point in theimmediate proximity of said vending machine and said selection displaystrips become visible substantially simultaneously only as a customerapproaches the immediate proximity of the vending machine.
 10. Aselection display, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said prism members arearranged in a plurality of vertically disposed horizontal rows.
 11. Aselection display, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said retaining meanscomprise flange members mounted on the lower surface of said prismmembers, said flange members being positioned on said prism members toretain at least two edges of the selection display strips so that theselection display strips may be removed by sliding the edges of theselection display strips from between said flange members.
 12. Aselection display, as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a removabletransparent cover member for covering the panel member and the prismmembers to prevent unauthorized access to the selection display strips.13. A selection display, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said panelmember has an esthetically pleasing design thereon.
 14. A selectiondisplay for coinoperated vending machines for displaying selectiondisplay strips having a lexical message printed thereon comprising: atleast two essentially parallel flat rectangular support members mountedat the front of the vending machine; a plurality of solid transparentprism members having at least two opposite substantially flat surfacesoriented at an acute angle with respect to each other, mounted along atleast two other opposite edges between said support members; retainingmeans mounted on said prism members for retaining the selection displaystrips against the lower surface of said prism members; each of saidprism members being angularly oriented so that the critical viewingangle at which said selection display strips are visible converges atsome point in the immediate proximity of said vending machine and saidselection display strips become visible substantially simultaneouslyonly as a customer approaches the immediate proximity of the vendingmachine.
 15. A selection display, as claimed in claim 14, wherein saidretaining means comprise flange members mounted on the lower surface ofsaid prism element, said flange members being positioned on said prismmembers to retain at least two edges of the selection display strips sothat the selection display strips may be removed by sliding the edges ofthe selection display strips from between said flange members.
 16. Aselection display, as claimed in claim 14, further comprising aremovable transparent cover member for covering the panel member and theprism members to prevent unauthorized access to the selection displaystrips.